Musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) in the workplace are commonly caused by repetitive or awkward movements. Below are some basic tips for identifying ergonomic risks. Look for these characteristics of work that may be causing concerns in your workplace.
- Frequent bending or twisting of the back or neck.
- Heavy, awkward or repetitive lifting, pushing or pulling.
- Tasks requiring lifting either below the knees or above the shoulder.
- Static postures - spending long periods without movement of a particular body part. This could include sitting, standing, bending, crouching, etc.
- Working with arms above shoulder height, elbows away from the body, or reaching behind the body.
- Repetitive or prolonged grasping and holding of objects, gripping with the wrist or elbow in an awkward position, or repetitive bending or twisting of the wrists or elbows.
- Frequent exposure to whole-body or hand-arm vibration that has not been controlled.
- Work surfaces that require elevation of the shoulders or stooping of the back for long periods.
- Contact stress, where force is concentrated on a small area of the body.
- Using any part of the body, especially your hand, as a hammer or mallet.
- Inadequate or excessive light or glare.
Often, low-cost simple solutions can be used to correct these risk factors, like re-arranging storage shelves, changing the height of work surfaces, or re-organizing tasks to reduce unnecessary manual material handling. The most effective ergonomic solutions involve both the workers and supervisors. If further assistance is needed to evaluate a task or to develop a solution to a problem, contact Andrew Scheifele.
Understanding the hazards
There are 3 main risk factors that can contribute to MSD’s in material handling tasks. They are:
Force |
|
Fixed or awkward postures |
|
Repetition |
|
Combining the risk factors of force, awkward posture and repetition increases the risk of injury.